Questions tagged [noun-phrases]

Phrases which, as a unit, act as a noun; and whose heads are nouns or pronouns. Modifiers can come before or after the noun phrase, and can include (among many other possibilities) articles or determiners such as "the" and "a".

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What's the grammatical function of the first part of the sentence below?

A regular fixture since the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, badminton now has five disciplines at the Games after mixed doubles was introduced at Atlanta 1996.
Qiang Lu's user avatar
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2 answers
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Syntactic structure of “International Women’s Day”

According to the general rule, in possessive phrases -‘s is placed right between the Possessor Phrase and the Thing-Possessed Phrase. On the 8th of March one celebrates the International Day of Women. ...
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the use of the word with the meaning [closed]

In particular, from the fourth century onwards, the word is employed in the papyri as a monastic title, in both the masculine and feminine genders,[19] and by the late sixth century the use of the ...
Englishgood's user avatar
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1 answer
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He wants to open his own business, but needs a push in the right direction to get him started

He wants to open his own business, but needs a push in the right direction to get him started. Source: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/push_2 Does "in the right ...
Englishgood's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
100 views

How to put an article before a word in a phrase if the first word is uncountable and the second word is countable?

Clinimetrics corner: the many faces of "selection bias" Now, selection and bias are both nouns. Selection is an uncountable noun and a countable noun. Bias is a countable noun. So, can I ...
Aryendu Kumar's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
209 views

Is there something wrong with the noun phrase "the bear out term origin"?

Talking to a colleague who is more skilled than me in English I asked this: can you provide information about the bear out term origin? and he said I should have written: Can you provide ...
karensapa paulina's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
21 views

How do I say that something is partly new in the form of a premodifier?

If I want to premodify a noun by saying that it is partly new, how do I do this? Neither of the following gets more than one or two hits on Google, and no hits at all on Ngrams, so I suspect they aren'...
Gerda's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Parsing a three-word noun phrase

How would one interpret this: X must be a valid metric name. This is an excerpt from software documentation if that matters. My interpretation options are: X must be a valid name. Valid name could ...
Tag Wint's user avatar
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1 answer
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What does "to be on the lay for" mean?

This context comes from the movie "Gangs Of New York" The phrase occurs when one of the characters is describing the types of gangs and people living in New York. "Hellcat Maggie tried ...
Static Bounce's user avatar
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0 answers
4k views

"two weeks' time" vs "two-week time"

I know that: (1) in two weeks' time - correct (2) in two-week time - incorrect But I don't know what will be without "in". For example (my own sentences): (3) Two weeks' time is enough for a ...
Loviii's user avatar
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1 answer
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How do you differentiate a subject complement from the object of a verb?

In these two sentences there's a noun phrase being used with different intents in each one, but how do you tell when it is a subject complement and when it is the object of the verb? Because to me it ...
Some random guy's user avatar
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4 answers
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Which one is correct: "one more book than" or "one more books than"?

Prerequisite:Mr.Smith has 30 books and Ms.Smith has 31 books. Which is correct? A. Ms.Smith has one more book than Mr.Smith. B. Ms.Smith has one more books than Mr.Smith.
Ran's user avatar
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1 answer
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People "of different kinds" vs. "different kinds of" people: why is the latter grammatical?

Original title: NP + "of different kinds" vs. "different kinds of" + NP This question has haunted me for years. It pops up almost every time I want to write down types, kinds, or ...
magni's user avatar
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Which one is a noun phrase?

The guy who is standing over there is my father The guy standing over there is my father Which bolded one is the correct noun phrase?
Rifpan Afriansyah's user avatar
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1 answer
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What are example usages of the preposition 'during' in a noun phrase?

I've met all my good friends during my stay in New York. The band hit the big time during the 1990s. Please remain seated during the performance. Above are three example usages of the preposition '...
gyute's user avatar
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1 answer
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They found the stone-tipped spears created larger 'wounds' than the wooden (ones)

In this article in the Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2735926/Stone-Age-spears-lethal-BULLETS.html is the sentence: They found the stone-tipped spears created larger '...
listeneva's user avatar
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1 answer
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Number with the word "respective"

Based on JavaLatte's answer to this question as well as on various dictionary definitions of the word "respective", I gather that the word serving as the head of a nounphrase premodified by &...
Mooshi's user avatar
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1 answer
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Multiple subject phrases with present simple

I wrote a sentence which was corrected by my teacher. When I asked them to explain, they weren't very clear. Here's the sentence I wrote: Busy restaurants and overcrowding on trains increase the risk ...
Dee Jae's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
53 views

What would be the difference if the adjective came first in this phrase/sentence?

The headline is: Analysis: The limits of a Europe whole and free If the headline was "... whole and free Europe" instead, would that differ from the original meaning? As a learner, I often ...
henryke araudjo's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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What is the function of the “for” in the sentence “For him to say that means a lot”?

In the sentence “For him to say that means a lot”, I can’t figure out how to explain what part of speech the “for” is, and how it can start off a noun phrase, but the sentence seems right to me. It ...
John Gordon's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
170 views

What is the structure of "lack of something"?

The word lack can be used either as a verb or noun. When it is used as a noun, such as "lack of water". Is the preposition phrase "of water" an attribute? Just like the window of ...
Henry Wang's user avatar
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1 answer
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"Josh wondered how handicapped the people were who could not see the way he could." - right placement of "were"?

It feels right and wrong at the same time. I know these alternatives would be correct: Josh wondered: how handicapped were the people who could not see the way he could? Josh wondered how ...
KeizerHarm's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
25 views

Are premodifiers included in the scope of the second NP when two NPs are coordinated elliptically?

In the following examples, where the second NP is elliptical, is the premodifier in the first of the coordinated NPs understood to apply to the second NP as well? A welcome change or addition A ...
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1 answer
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"the payment cash" or "the cash payment"

He said they will accept the payment ((that is)) cash on the delivery. He said they will accept the cash payment on the delivery. Which phrase would be better? Should I “cash” before payment or ...
Foreign student's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
158 views

"of below x" vs. "of the below x" vs. "of the x below"

I wrote this question I would like to know what to call the rhythmic style of below pattern. That "below" refers to a picture that follows. Someone corrected the sentence to read I would ...
Evgeniy Berezovsky's user avatar
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1 answer
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In the given example, is the embedded question functioning as an noun complement?

They have no idea how close they came to being hurt. In the sentence above, the noun clause 'how close they came to being hurt' directly follows a noun. Is this acting similarly to a 'that' clause ...
MJ Ada's user avatar
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Question about "It’s not about them/their being scientists."

In my opinion "it's not about being scientists." is good enough. But I saw this sentence on my test paper. Is that a correct sentence? If yes, what's the function of [them] and [their] here? ...
Sharon's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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a mass of clouds is / a mass of clouds are

I was given a sentence: Venus is covered in a mass of clouds which is thought to be a couple of miles thicker. The correct answer to which was: Venus is covered in a mass of clouds which are ...
Thomas Jerryson's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
49 views

Is “this pie hot” in “do you want this pie hot?” a non-finite clause?

Do you want this pie hot? (from the Cambridge Dictionary) Is “this pie hot” in “do you want this pie hot?” a non-finite clause or just a noun phrase?
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1 answer
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omission of some part of the noun phrase in the following sentence

Here is the sentence: Local fixed line calls were the highest throughout the period, rising from 72 billion minutes in 1995 to just under 90 billion in 1998. I think there should be the phrase 'the ...
ing's user avatar
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0 answers
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"one of a kind" vs "one of the kind"

It always made me wonder why we say "one of a kind" when usually the context allows the certainty I don't know how we'll ever replace Mary after she retires. She's really one of a kind. = ...
Andrew Tobilko's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
52 views

He has been a victim of fraud

He has been a victim of fraud. He has been a victim of fraud on several occasions. He has been very helpful. He has been very helpful on several occasions. What is the difference between (1) and (...
Mr. X's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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creating unavoidable large increases in difficulty from one to the next

<...> It would be easy to face a fear of standing on high balconies in a way that’s totally controlled and on your terms. Socializing is trickier. <............> The social situations you ...
Mcreaper's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
54 views

What does ‘bright light’ mean?

Does ‘bright light’ mean ‘light giving out or reflecting much light’? I don’t understand what it means. Is it like ‘drinking water’ or ‘cooking oil’?
user83848's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
72 views

What does it modify? The noun "heat" or the whole phrase "the value of heat"?

I'd like to learn what the part "for the preservation of food" modifies in the following sentence, the noun "heat" or the whole phrase "the value of heat" . The value of ...
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1 vote
2 answers
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How can I translate my final research title?

I'm trying to translate my final research title for degree validation. Which one would be correct? Body Image Perception Among Adults Who Practice Body Building in Lavras City - MG Body Image ...
Leticia Nadalete's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
28 views

Can I use the combination "multi-adjective+noun"?

I'd like to learn if I can use the combination "multi-adjective+noun" to form an adjective. Examples; This is a multi-rigid-body analysis. (I mean that this analysis has more than one ...
Jawel7's user avatar
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0 answers
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The man near the door who is pretending to be cool who has a red hat is a friend of Jane

My original sentence is The man near the door who is pretending to be cool who has a red hat is a friend of Jane. In this sentence, I intended to use "defining relative clause" with "...
Jawel7's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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How to interpret a "... of..." structure: "protest of CEOs"?

When Americans notice business and politics mingling in other countries they often see it as a sign of institutional decay, crony capitalism or authoritarianism. Today the mixing of government and ...
HypnoticBuggyWraithVirileBevy's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
496 views

Little or too little

I wonder if there are any differences between in the following sentences in terms of meaning. I have little money to buy a new car. I have too little money to buy a new car. As far as I know, both ...
Mrt's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
73 views

What is the head of the noun phrase "none of the members"? [closed]

What is the head of the noun phrase "none of the members"? I'm not sure if none or members is the head of the noun phrase.
Jenny Sedlmeier's user avatar
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0 answers
39 views

When MUST we use noun phrase + adjective , not adjective + noun?

I always catch my students using adj + noun even when it's not suitable but I don't know how to explain why we can't always do that and what the rule is. For example: Mental health issue people need ...
Ann's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
61 views

They seemed a nice couple [duplicate]

They seemed a nice couple. They seemed to be a nice couple. They seemed like a nice couple. Are they all correct?
Mr. X's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
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How do I fit all this information into one single noun phrase?

I need to refer generically to people who meet the following criteria (and I need to include all the information in one single noun phrase): they have at least part-time employment they have ...
Helen's user avatar
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0 answers
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Which is better in this context – AdjP or NP as a subject complement?

When I need to describe myself (for instance in a letter to a potential employer or the like), should I use a NP headed by "person" as a subject complement, or just an AdjP? That is, which ...
Helen's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
421 views

Parsing "What cannot be cured must be endured"

What cannot be cured must be endured. When I parse the sentence, I find that What cannot be cured is the NP in fused relative construction and is the subject of the sentence. be is the copula and ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
151 views

Should the head noun be plural or singular in "the development(s) of these theories"

What number should the head noun have in a noun phrase complemented by an of-phrase, where the NP complement of of is headed by a plural noun? Examples: the development(s) of these theories the front ...
Hannah's user avatar
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0 answers
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Why is this sentence structure correct?

I happened to see an article talking about mental health with the title: 10 things your mental health is more important than. There they listed the 10 things which are less important than our mental ...
Guri's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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"deer's numbers" or "deer's population" or "deer population"

Why "deer's numbers" is not correct and I should say "deer numbers" without 's I have the same question for the phrase "deer population", is it right to say "deer's ...
newdmk's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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"him arriving and me finishing the wine" [duplicate]

I copied the below sentence from one of the answers to another question: This means that he arrived and I quickly finished the last of the wine. The two events (him arriving and me finishing the wine)...
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